Unnecessary shutdowns

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

The federal government is shutting down a lot of things that are either don't need to be shut down (because they cost no money to operate) or actually cost more to shut down than they do to keep operating. These include both national parks and government agency websites.

http://www.ijreview.com/2013/10/84362-13-national-parks-impacted-government-shutdown/
http://reason.com/blog/2013/10/02/government-will-shut-down-websites-even

We're at the point where the government is just being petty and working on zooming well past that point.

For those who think it's justified because the Republicans won't budge on Obamacare, that just doesn't fit the facts.



As a libertarian, I'm fine with permanently cutting 800,000 federal workers and I think it's nice that they've identified the agencies we can do without, but I'd rather it happen with at least the standard 2-week warning for people. Pretty much all politicians in office right now are acting like children, but that's what happens when the electorate is also.

Comments

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

Public schools don't need to exist. Parks and museums also need to be private ventures. Nowhere have I said that they don't need to be open. Quite the opposite in fact.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

Yeah, let's add illiteracy to our host of problems. Great idea.

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

Meh, public schools would run fine without the federal gov't. Well, considering the state of public schools in some areas, I doubt they'd be much worse.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

Clearly the exception make the rule.

[nairiporter.livejournal.com]

public schools would run fine without the federal gov't

You genuinely believe this, don't you.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

Only if you assume that federally funded public schools are the only way people can learn, which is patently false. Did you learn that at a public school by chance?

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

We have plenty of private schools.

Most people can't afford to go to them.

Go figure.

[nairiporter.livejournal.com]

Not the only one. But it should exist as an option. And you want it to disappear altogether.

[paft.livejournal.com]

It would definitely help the cause of many right-wing libertarians, who seem to depend on historic illiteracy.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

They're opposed to education after all. And when someone is opposed to that there really isn't a whole lot of say.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

"Parks and museums also need to be private ventures."

That is exactly how they get clear cut and turned into parking lots.

I mean, god damn, there was a reason the parks were protected by the govenrment and I don't feel like giving you a history lesson, especially since you're just going to reject anyways.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

First, I don't see that as a problem. Second, the federal government is not the only institution that is capable of protecting nature. Third, the reasons in the past are not eternal.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Oh, so the guys from private business have CHANGED now, have they? They're all such good and responsible citizens, and they'd never turn a national park into a parking lot for the sake of profit. RIGHT?

I don't see that as a problem

Exactly.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

First, If you don't see it as a problem why are you so rabid about keeping them open right now?

Second, it is not the only institution but it is the one that is capable of meaningful enforcement, and avoidance of mob rule.

Third, there was a reason we decided to protect our wilderness, the problems it solved never completely gone away either. Environmental protection is an on going job, the difference between the past and present is we have an awareness of it.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

"Public schools don't need to exist"

This opinion brought to you by the 17th century.

[usekh.livejournal.com]

Hell Scotland had public schools and universities in the 15th century :P

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

And we all know where that took them by the 18th century...

Oh yeah, the centre of the enlightenment :P

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

And Iraq had them in the 10th century.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

You know, saying this like this is the reason you're not found very credible.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know people's illogical knee-jerk reaction to libertarian ideas.

[usekh.livejournal.com]

Nothing illogical about it when you study history.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

Libertarian government: puppies and rainbows for everyone, as long as said rainbows are funded voluntarily and not through coercive theft. Please refer to your local non-binding corporate governmental collective of your own free choice for more information.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Nah, those who espouse them are doing a great job at providing the proof why those ideas suck, anyway. Like, "I don't see a problem with turning national parks into parking lots".

Sounds like a pretty logical reason to disapprove and reject libertarian ideas.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

It's only knee-jerk because I'm fucking educated. You know, education, yet another thing you're so opposed to.

[houndofloki.livejournal.com]

LOL at National Parks being private ventures. Because nothing says the-beauty-of-nature quite like a $50 per person admission fee, a Geico billboard, and fast-food shops. A park the size of Yellowstone would be so astronomically expensive to own and administer that there would be no profit motive in it without high admission fees, plus revenue-adding advertising and vendors.

Seriously, if you don't think national parks and monuments are important enough to spend tax dollars on, that's one thing. But it's silly to pretend they could exist as commercial businesses without completely altering their fundamental character.